Delray Beach murder victim loved family, football, says mom

Those were the three things that Davon Darrell Holland loved the most, his grieving mom Betty Holland said on Monday, two days after her only child was murdered in Delray Beach.

"He's a mama's baby," said Holland, 36. "He was born April 12, 1994, and basically he's been my heart ever since."

On Friday night, Davon, 18, died after being shot at least five times outside of a relative's house on Southwest 13th Avenue. Delray Beach police officers and emergency crews arrived to find a trail of blood leading to the floor of the garage, where Davon lay unconscious. He died at the scene.

The shooting led to the arrest of Thomas Alan J. Taylor, 30, early Sunday, said Delray Beach police. Taylor, who lived several houses down on 13th Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was held in custody at the Palm Beach County jail.

Betty Holland, who wasn't at the house when the violence broke out, said she was told by relatives that Davon was hanging out with family members in front of her sister-in-law's house Friday night around 11:30 p.m. when a car pulled up. Some guys got out, a fight erupted.

A young relative was also shot in the leg and grazed in the back of the neck by a bullet, police said. The boy survived.

"It's ugly," Holland said. "It didn't have to go there."

Delray Beach police said the incident began at a convenience store at 945 West Atlantic Ave. The boy – the shooting victim who survived – was jumped by a group of adults and juveniles, police said. The boy then ran to the house where the shooting would occur.

When the boy arrived at the house, he met with a group of men including the victim, police said. A silver or grey vehicle pulled up, according to an arrest report. The driver and three other males including one with dreadlocks began to fight with the boy and Davon. The guy with the dreadlocks pulled a handgun and began firing. Everybody ran.

Delray Beach Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Nicole Guerriero said police don't expect further arrests. Guerriero also said that the tragedy serves as an important reminder to avoid physical confrontation and to call police instead.

"Let us resolve it a non-violent way," Guerriero said.

Speaking about her son, Holland said Davon was an affectionate youngster. By the time he was 5, he had learned how to help his dad with his diabetic shots. At 11, Davon tried to bake his first red velvet cake, but the cake didn't rise. He tried it again and got it right, his mom said. He also loved grilling.

But Davon's main love – apart from family – was football. He had played for the Delray Rocks and Boynton Bulldogs and was a big fan of the Miami Dolphins.

The family was struggling to cope with Davon's death, Holland said Monday.